vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Marica" is a noun which is often translated as "fag", and "mariquita" is a noun which is often translated as "ladybug". Learn more about the difference between "marica" and "mariquita" below.
el marica, marica(
mah
-
ree
-
kah
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
1.
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
(homosexual man)
a. fag
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
b. poof
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
2.
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
(effeminate male)
a. sissy
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
(pejorative)
b. pussy
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
3.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(friend)
Regionalism used in Colombia
(Colombia)
a. dude
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Marica, no vas a creer lo que me pasó hoy.Dude, you won't believe what happened to me today.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
4.
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
(relating to homosexual men)
a. faggoty
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
b. poofy
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
5.
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
(coward)
a. wimpy
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
(pejorative)
b. namby-pamby
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
(pejorative)
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
la mariquita(
mah
-
ree
-
kee
-
tah
)
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a. ladybug
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
¿Viste que hay una mariquita en la hoja del arce?Did you see that there's a ladybug on the maple leaf?
b. ladybird
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
La mariquita voló de la planta a mi brazo.The ladybird flew from the plant onto my arm.
a. parakeet
La mariquita puso tres huevos en el hueco del árbol.The parakeet laid three eggs in the hollow of the tree.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
3.
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
(homosexual man)
a. fag
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
b. fairy
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
c. poof
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
masculine or feminine noun
4.
A word or phrase that is gravely offensive and taboo in all contexts.
(extremely offensive)
(coward)
a. wimp
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
(pejorative)
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.